Shock absorber



Aug, 1933- G. A. GILLEN 1,920,251

SHOCK ABSORBER Filed Aug. 28, 1931 INVENTOR Patented. Aug. 1, 1933 FECE 1,920,251 SHOCK .snsoansa George A. Gillen, Bronx, N. Y., assignor, by inesne ass gnments, to Houde, Engineering Corporatron, Buffalo, N. Y., a Corporation of New York Application August28, 1931.1 Serial No. 559,818 7 Claims. (01. 188-89.)

The present invention relates to shock absorbers of the so-called hydraulic types.

The objects of the invention are to improve the construction and operation of such devices, a particularly as to simplifying manufacture, reducing cost and controlling the operation to automatically stiffen up the retarding action as the movement increases.

These and other desirable objects are attained by the novel features of construction,-combinations and relations of parts hereinafter dc scribed, illustrated and broadly claimed.

The drawing accompanying and forming part of the following specification illustrates certain practical embodiments of the invention and it will be understood that further structural modifications and changes may be made all within the intent and broad scope of the invention.

Fig. l is a broken partly sectional view illustrating anembodiment of the invention as connected in the usualway with the frame and axle of a car; Fig. 2 is an enlarged broken andpartly sectional view, showing parts of the device as they appear with the cover removed; Fig. 3 is a on substantially the plane of line 33 of Fig.

2; Fig. 4 is a View generally. similar to Fig. 2, il-

lustrating a modification in which a single rocking piston is employed in place of two geared pistons.

In the form of the invention shown in the first three views, two rocking pistons 7 and 8 are employed mounted on stub shafts 9, 10, and geared together in back-to-back relation by closely meshing segmental gear teeth 11, 12. Either one of the mounting shafts may be extended to carry a rock arm, such as shown at 13, and which is indicated as connected by suitable linkage 14, with one of the relatively movable parts, in this case, the car axle 15. g

The casing of the devicedesignated 16 is suitably attached to the other movable part, in this case, the car frame 17.

The casing, which carries the checking fluid and in which the pistons operate, is oif special design in that the surfaces of the same which cooperate with the rocking pistons are eccentric with respect to the piston centers as indicated at- 18, increasing in radius to both sides, away from the intermediate or so-called neutral positions of the pistons.

Sealing engagement between the free ends of the pistons and the opposed eccentrically related Walls is effected, in the illustration, by vanes longitudinal or horizontal sectional view as taken.

' or blades 19, slidingly seated in open radially extending slots 20 in the pistons and which are heldoutwardly in slidingengagement with the eccentric surfaces by springs 21 in back of such blades.

The desired freedom of action for the lesser movements is attained, in the present disclosure, by the provision of ports 22, extending through the pistons from one side to the other and ports 23 in the sliding blades, positioned to substantially register with the through ports in the pistons when the latter are in the neutral or midposition. This condition or relation of the parts is shown particularly in Fig. 2, which illustrates the fact that when the parts are in what may be considered as a generally balanced relation, the checking liquid may pass through from one side to the opposite side of each piston with a freedom depending only on the restriction offered by the size of the ports. Therefore, only a relatively miid'checkingaction will be opposed to the lesser iovements of the parts, in this case, the axle and frame or" the car. As the extent or movement increases however, the bypasses afiorded by the piston ports are reduced and finally, if desired, entirely closed by the outward sliding movements of the blades, permitted by the greater eccentricity of the enclosing wall surfaces. Thus, under rather extreme movements with the ports entirely closed, the pistons may operate as solid pistons, exerting a maximum of pressure on the liquid and therefore a maximum'checking effect. The operation is equally effective in both directions in the illustration, but it will be understood that by varying the eccentricity at opposite sides of the center position, the checking action may be made more gradual or more sudden in one direction than inthe other.

Spiral or inclined gearing, such as illustrated,

be used for connecting the backs of the pistons, to reduce or prevent undesired leakage between the pistons and to insure quiet smooth operation of the same.

In order that the pistons shall not occupy too great a proportion of the liquid space and also to provide smooth angles of impact on the liquid, 7 the pistons may be tapered from their hub portions toward their free ends, substantially as indicated. As shown particularly in Fig.1, this tapered construction to a certain extent eases the action of the pistons on the confined liquid, preventing hammering action.

The cooperatively acting double bladed structurc described, is particularly suited for heavy cars or where maximum control is desired. 1 For "lighter cars or where less control is required, a

single piston construction may be used, such illustrated in Fig. 4, the construction being generally the same, except that in place of the other blade in back of the piston, the casing wall may be extended inwardly as at 24, to meet or con form with the smooth hub portion 25 on the back of the piston. The action of this single piston with its combined sliding vane and valve is substantially thesame' as above described.

The casing of the device may be and preferably is constructed with a cover 26, readily removable for inspection or other purposes and the body portion of the casing may be equipped with a filling plug 2'? or the like.

In addition to variations attainable through design of the eccentricity and the shape, size and relation of the valve ports, other possibilities of control are attainable through other shaping of the-pistons and other portions of the liquid hold ing chamber. Various other modifications and changes may be made and it will be understood that the terms employed herein have been used in a descriptive rather than in a limiting sense, except possibly for limitations as may be imposed by the state of thel prior art.

What is claimed is:

l. A shock absorber comprisinga casing for holding a checking fluid, a rocking piston journailed to operate in said casing, said casing hav ing a wall surface cooperatively opposed to the free end of the rocking piston and extending eccentrically to the center of piston movement, said chamber for holding a checking fluid and rocking pistons operating in said working chamber and geared together in back-to-back relation, said pistons having hub portions at the back of the same provided with inter-meshing gear segments.

4. A shock absorber comprising a working chamber for holding a checking fluid and rocking pistons operating in said working chamber and geared together in back-to-back relation, said pistons having hub portions provided with intermeshing inclined teeth gear segments.

7 5. A shock absorber comprising a working chamber having oppositely disposed arcuate portions, rocking pistons journalled in the intermediate portion of said chamber and extending toward said arcuate portions of the chamber, said arcuate portions being arranged eccentrically of the piston pivots and means connecting the pistons to effect conjoint operation of the same.

6.. A shock absorber comprising a working chamber having oppositely disposed areuate portions, rocking pistons journalled in the intermediate portion of said chamber and extending toward said arcuate portions of the chamber, said arcuatc portions being arranged eccentrically of the piston pivots, means connecting the pistons to cheat conjoint operation of the same and out- Wardly sliding blades mounted in the piston for cooperative engagement with said eccentric porpass valving meansautomatically. operable in the 1 travel of said pistons to said eccentric portions.

GEORGE A. GIL-LEN. 

